PCORI Approves Millions for Studies

Sep.8,2015

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) www.pcori.org approved $56.7 million to do four large patient-centered studies on several treatment options. The studies aim to produce results that are more relevant to a broad range of patients and care settings and easier to adopt in routine clinical practices.

The newly approved awards will support studies comparing:

The safety and effectiveness of antibiotics versus surgery in treating patients with uncomplicated appendicitis

The safety and effectiveness of three blood-thinning drugs used to prevent potentially deadly blood clots in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement

Different approaches to getting patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar depression the mental healthcare they need

Two strategies for getting patients in rural and underserved areas the behavioral healthcare they need to see which works better

PCORI also approved $9 million for two studies on obesity, one on weight loss surgery, and on weight gain that may be caused by antibiotic use among young children.

Each study will involve national advocacy organizations, major professional societies, associations, payers, and other key patient and stakeholder groups in the study’s research, design, and implementation.

PCORI also announced new research funding offering up to $60 million to support Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research on the use of new anticoagulant drugs and the care for treatment-resistant depression.

With the Board’s approval, PCORI expects to issue new calls for proposals this fall to provide up to $30 million for studies comparing the effectiveness of new blood-thinning drugs in treating blood clots and up to $30 million for research on treatment-resistant depression.